Aircraft launching and landing means



AIRCRAFT LAUNCHING AND LANDING MEANS;

1 5 0 saliva I Patented Mar. 15, 1921; v

v ,m 3 SHEETS-SHEET I H. BUTTS. AIRCRAFT [AUNLHJNG AND LANDING MEA NS. APPLICATION {ILED JULY 31, I949.

1,871,989u katented Mar. 15, 1921,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2L H. BUTTS.

AIRCRAFT LAUNCHING AND LANDING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1919.

Lgyx ggg J v Patented Mar. 15, 19210 .3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

EEBER BUTTS, OF SAIN' DIEGG, CALIFORNIA. I

AIRCRAFT LAUNCHI'NG ar ssa AND LANDING MEANS.

. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 15, 1921. I

Application filed July 31, 1919. Serial No. 314,463.

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, HEBER Burrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the State of California, have in-' launching and landing means for aircraft,

wherein provision is made for launching n aeroplane equally well from the surface of the ground orwater, and bringing it to rest equally well upon the surface of the ground or water. In the particular form disclosed the device consists of a rigid V-type wheeled landing gearattached to a rectangular framework, two sides of which are formed by two horizontal tubular bars. Both of these horizontal bars project over and across the superior surfaces of two pontoons. One of the bars is hinged at each end to the two pontoons, while the other bar is locked at each end to the two pontoons by an automatic locking device. An elevating device, operated by the aviator from his seat, is connected with the wheeled landing gear for unlocking and elevating it above, and lowering and locking it to, the two pontoons, as occaslon requires.

Heretofore, in'constructing launching and landing gear for a1rcraft which are designed to accomplish the dual purpose of launching and alighting on the surface of ground or water,'1t has been proposed to make use '(1) of'collapsible or folding wheel types of structures for landing gear wheels combined with pontoons; (2) of a boat'provided with a false bottom carrying a landing gear such as skids and wheels; '(3) of an axle with landing wheels and a lifting plane sus pended beneath and between pontoons or floats.

It is believed that (1) all collapsible or folding wheel types of convertible chassis are necessarily much weakened and complicated in structure in order to make them collapsible; (2) that flying boats provided with false bottoms and skids and wheels for landing upon the ground are equipped more particularly for aquatic service, and areusually unduly heavy, and cannot be re garded as equally well adapted for ground service; (3) that hydroaeroplanes equipped with axles, landing wheels and lifting planes suspended beneath pontoons are unduly heavy and cumbersome, and difficulty is encountered when the hydroaeroplane attempts to leave the water, because of the great resistance which these parts (in addition to the pontoons or floats) must offer as they are dragged through the water.

The present invention avoids these obj ectionable features (1) by the adoption of a rigid, non-collapsible, adequately strutted and trussed V-type or other suitable wheeled landing gear which is essentially of the same general structure as those most commonly in use on present day aeroplanes; 2) by simplicity of design and fewer and stronger parts th n can form the construction of any practicl convertible aeroplane chassis; (3) by elevating the wheeled landing gear with its frame work entirely above the pontoons when it is desired to rise from or to alight upon th water.

The prime objects of my Improvements are, first, to provide a means wnich will permit an aeroplane to be launched equally well from the surface of theground or water; second, to provide a means which will permit an aeroplane to alight equally well on all collapsible or folding the surface of the ground or water; third, to provide a means which will permit a change of chassis in an aeroplane while in flight, for landing purposes, from wheelsto pontoons, or vice versa, safely, quickly and easily. Coordinate objects are simplicity of design, protection of the wheel landing gear from water, sturdiness of structure, and a minimum of weight,'air and water resistance.

It will, of course, be understood that while I have shown and described certain preferred structures and types of means for carrying my invention into practical effect,

the invention is not limited thereto except when, particularly specified in the claims, as any substantial equivalents thereof may be employed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a single motored aeroplane of the tractor biplane type (parts having been omitted in order not to complicate the drawing), showing the manner in which the present invention is attached to an aeroplane and forms part of it;

Fig. 2 is an outline perspective view of the framework (including landing wheels,

axle, struts, posterior hinge bar and anterior lock bar) of the WllGQlltlIll'llllg' gear of the present chassis dissociated from. the pontoons and Windlass elevating device which also form part of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation,lshowing the wheeled landing gear locked to and between the'two pontoons of the convertible chassis in proper position for being launched from or alighting upon the ground, with detailed construction of preferred automatic locking device;

Fig. 4 is a sectional. view of anterior bar 0f wheeled landing gear-just after it has been unlocked aml elevated above the two pontoons of the convertible chassis;

Fig.5 is a topplan view of the pontoons' and wheeled landing gear, the parts of the aeroplane above the chassis not being shown;

Fig. 6 is-a side elevation, showing the wheeled landing gear, unlocked fromland elevated above one of the two pontoons of the chassis, in the normal position for launching flOlll-Ol alightlng' upon water.

This -chassis is designed for use on any;

type of aircraft which can be equipped with two pontoons' or floats. It consists of a rigid rectangular i'rainework, to the four inferior corners of which are attached the superior ends of V-type wheeled landing gear struts, the inferior ends of said struts being united together byappropriate strut to which are rigidly attached the two struts and 2. The two remaining sides of the rectangular framework are formed by wooden bars or members 3 and 3 which are designed to act as braces to insure rigidity and sturdiness for the wheeled landing gear.

Into the ends of anterior steel tubular bar B (Figs-1, Q, 3,4, 5 and 6) are telcscoped sliding bolts 4: and 4 (Figs. 2 and 3) which project over and across the anterior superior surface of the two pontoons and fit into pontoon bolt hbusings or keepers 5. and 5. These sliding bolts are securely locked in this position when the aviator wishes to launch his machine from or to alighton the ground, by the device now to be described.

In the interior of the anterior tubular bar B are loosely placed spiral springs 6 and 6 (Figs. 3 and 4). .These springs impinge against the inner ends of sliding bolts 4 and inner ends of sliding bolts 4 and 4c.

Lat i eas 4, and the diaphragrins 7 and 7 form fixed abutments for the springs. Eyescrews t3 and 8, for the attachment of the ends of steel cable 9, are fixed in the center of the This steel cable passes through spiral springs 6 and 6, through openings in the diaphragms 7 and 7, over pulleys l0 and 10. and

through theholes 11 and '11" in tubular bar B.

The bolts-4: and 4' are designed to be pulled toward one another by steel cable 9. At the bi'g'ht or mid portion of rope or cable 9*is attached. rope or cable 12. When rope or cablelQ is pulled by the operation of the windlass presently to be described, bolts a and 4: approach one another, and spiral springs 6 and fi are compressed by these bolts, as shown in Fig. 4.

Then the bolts 4 and 4: are telescoped sufficiently farinto tubular bar B, the short arms a of pivoted bell-crank dogs or clutches l3 and 13, are caused to engage notches a int-he outermost ends of bolts 4 and 4, by

tl1e. acti,on of flat steel springs 14 and 14C,

securely locking bolts 4: and 4' in these positions, and allowing the dogs to clear bolt keepers 5" and 5'1... At this point a continued pull onthe cable 12 will cause the anterior portion of the wheeledflanding gear framework to be 'liitedoutxff housings 5 and 5,

and to be swung upwardly and rearwardly toward the interior surface of the fuselage and lower plane of 'the. aeroplane, theposterior portion of the-wheeled landrng gear framework remaining ffixed to the 'pontoons by means of its hinges with bar A,as shown in Figs. and6. In Fig. l is shown the cable or rope 12 passing tl'iro'ugh a hole or slot in the lower plane of the biplane,-and over pulley-wheel i 15, which is placed in the floor of the fuselage, rearward of the motor, and about on a line w th the anterior inter-plane struts.

()ne end-of rope orcable i2 is 'attaclied 'to ilo the mid portion of rope or cable 9, and the other end is attached to Windlass 16, which ,is firmly fixed under the seat in the forward cockpit. lVindl-ass 1(5'is operated by turn" ing handnvheel 17, which. is keyed to one end ota shaft that has its bearings in the box 18 and the supports 19 and 19. Near the end of this shaft is the worm 20 that meshes worm-wheel 21 and turns windlass 16. An axle 22 passes through the apps of windlass l6, and has its bearings 1n'd' )propriate boxes in each side of the fuselage under the forward seat. the purpose of hOlfllIlg the Windlass in place and the worm-wheel in mesh with worm 20.

This axle is for The wheeled landing gear is elevated at will but this force is augmented by spiral springs 23 under tension. One end of this sprlng is attached to the side of the pontoon, and the' -each pontoon, both of equal strength.

lVhen the wheeled landing gear has been partially lowered, the rush of air (assuming the aeroplane is in flight) also aids materially in lowering it into position for landmg.

As the wheeled landing gear is being lowered to the pontoons, preparatory to putting it into position for landing on the ground, the long arms of dogs or clutches 13 and 18 are the first portions of bar B-of the wheeled landing gear to impinge on the offsets or recesses 7) of the .pontoon housings 5 and 5. The weight of the wheeled landing gear, as

' it descends, causes the fiat springs of these dogs to be compressed, and the short arms of the dogs are forced to clear the ends of bolts 4 and 4'. This releases bolts 4 and- 1,

bolts outward and deeply into pontoon housings 5 and 5. In this manner the wheeled landing gear is locked into position for safely alighting on the ground,

When the wheeled landing gear has been lowered in this manner and locked, its wheels 'shonld project 12 or 15 inches below the lower edges of the pontoons'l The wheels should touch the ground at such a point that a line drawn from their axles to the center of'gravity of the aeroplane will subtend an angle of 13 10 anterior to a line drawn perpendicularly through the aeroplanes center of gravity.

To prevent the posterior portion of the pontoonsfrom dragging" .on the ground, a special tail skid 24 (Fig. 1) .is provided and should be 12 or 15 inches longer than for an aeroplane designed solely for being launched from and alighting upon the ground. This tail skid maybe otherwise similar in general construction to an ordinary tail skid and arran ed to cooperate with a suitable shock-absor er.

The tail skid should not be too long, as it. is desirable for the posterior inferior portions 25 of the pontoons to drag upon the ground after the axle and shock-absorbing apparatus have reached the upper limit of travel in the axle guides. When this point has been reached the posterior portions of the two pontoons properly begin to take up the shock of a rough landing and by a momentary skidding over the ground tend to act as a brake and to bring the aeroplane to rest. It must be clearly understood, however, that this momentary skidding over the ground on the part of the pontoons is designed to take place only after the shockabsorbing apparatus has been placed under tension, and most of the shock of landing has already been taken up.

Though the pontoons or'fioats of a seaplane or hydroaeroplane are usually made strong enough to withstand the ordinary stresses incident to weight-bearing and landings, it is desirable to give additional strength to the pontoons at those points at which the hinges and lock housings of the wheeled landing gear are attached to the pontoons. This may be done in the course of construction of the pontoons by equip ping them with longitudinal and lateral steel ribs of sufficient strength to withstand the stresses to which the pontoons will be subjected when making a landing. The hinges and lock housings should be mads as much an integral part of the pontoons as possible.

I wish to particularly point out that the general structure of neither the Vtype wheeled landing gear nor the two pontoons vertible aeroplane chassis make any radical and the spiral springs 6 and 6' force the and fittings, directly to the inferior surface of the lower plane and fuselage of the aeroplane. In this manner, whenever desired,

the aeroplane may be readily converted into a machine for land service only, or into a machine for aquatic service only, with no additional expense, except for suitable bolts and fittings.

If desired, the with and set screws provided on bar B to engage slots in thebolts to limit. the outward movement of-the latter.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim a 1. In a launching and-landing means'for aircraft, the' combination of a craft having a waterborne base, a wheeled carriage hinged at its rear portion to said base to swing in a vertical plane so as to dispose the wheels thereof above and below the horizontal plane of the bottom of said base, locking means carried by the forward portion of the carpose the wheels thereof above and below dogs may be dispensedii 'ioa' at v 7 1,371,989

the horizontal plane of the base portionsot projected position, and controlling means the pontoons, means for raising and lower ior retracting and releasing said bolts and ing the carriage, and means for locking the raising the carriage.

same to the pontoons in landing position. 8." in launching and landing means for 3. In launching and ltll'ltllllg' means for aircraft, the combination of a craft having aircraft; the combination of a craft having spaced pontoons, said pontoons being prespaced pontoons, said pontoons being provided with transverse keepers open at the vided with keepers. a unitary wheeled landinner sides of the pontoons, a wheeled ing carriage hingedly supported on and oplanding carriage hinged to said pontoons erable between the pontoons for vertical for movement in a vertical plane to proswinging movement so as to dispose the ccted and retracted positions, said carriage wheels thereof aboveand below the plane being provided with transversely disposed of the bases 01? said Pontoons, hacking dcbolt guides. spring actuated bolts mounted vices upon the carriage to engage said keepin said guides for engagement with the ers to lock the cz'irriage in landing position, keepers-to lock the carriage in, projected s0 and means for raising the carriage and rcposition. and controlling means for retracttracting said locking devices. ing the. bolts and raising the carriage.

l-.-In launchingand landing means tor 9,-In launching and landing means for aircraft, the combination ol a craft having aircraft; the combination of a craft having spaced pontoons, said pontoons being prospaced pontoons. said. pentoons being pro- R5 vided with keepers, a unitary wheeled landvided with keepers, spring actuated locking ing carriage hingedly supported on and opdevices to engage said keepers. controlling. a

, erable between the pontoons for movement means for retracting the bolts d fifiging in a vertical plane so as to project and rethe carriage. and latch (lOVlCOS foi'igho'l'ding tract the wheels below and above the plane th b lt t' cted and operative on the Of the lower fdCQS lllEfGOf, automatically flow mrd movement; of the, cgi n'iag to rg l+-- projectable locking devices upon. the carlease th b lts for a locking-action" 1 liilge t0 engage said keep r 11nd 100k tho 10. In launching and landing means for I Same in lendi g position 0 the P 0 aircraft, the combination of a craft having and controlling means for retracting said spaced pontoons. said pontoons being prolocking devices and raising thecarriage t0 vided with kpppm'g a unitgu'y heeled landretracted pos1t1on. ing carriage hinged'to the pontoons for 1ml launching and landlng means for movement between the same between proaircrat't, the combination of a craft having j t and rammed positions: Spring actp l ied Pontoonsh whgelml landing at ed locking bolts on the carriage to en carriage hingedilt' its real to the PP gage the keepers and lock the carriage in s lf of d re e and l l projected position, and controlling means forward "the 1 P f UI3 3 l ""operative on its initial movement to first. L 2 11 12? ljlf g wti release the bolts and thereafter to effect the rlli and lock the t 1?")? movement of the carriageto raised position.

in l flH LQQll iQll lg 111M115 ll ln launchingand landing means for Operable tor unlocklng the i 'l l d aircraft, the combination of a craft having 1'a1s1ng t:l1l::5aTfiQ I0 retracted POSIUOIII spaced pontoons, said pontoons being pro- In launching n landing means for vidcd with keepers, a wheeled landing can aircraft the icolnnlmmtiqn Cmft riage of unitary construction mounted for 2 spaced P s Said Pontoons being swinging movement vertically between said Provided i p unitary wheeled pontoons, spring actuated locking bolts to landing carriage hinged to said pontoons engage id k nnd l k the Carriage in for vertical movement beti'veen the same, be j' iti a bl th lik 1 t ee PI'QECQ and renamed I lS ing terminal portions connected with the 115 p g actuated'lwkinflrbgltiml U bolts, and a controlling element engaging nag? to engage t l J 109k said cable and operative to draw thereon to carriage in projected position, and control- T816336 th b lt d" {mfg-Eta i th ling means"tor -retracting aid bolts and a riage, rais the 'i g '1 V. 12. In launching and landing means for 1:1 launching and l 11193115 aircraft, the combination of a craft having aircraft, the combination oil a craft having j spaced pontoons, said pontoons being prospaced pontoons, said pontoons being provided with keepers, a wheeled landing carvided with keepers, a wheeledlanding car riage of unitary construction mounted for riage pivotally mounted .at its rear portion ---n:iovement b t th Pontoons b t 5 to the upper surfaces of said pontoons and projected and retracted positions, spring havingits front portion provided with tuhuactuated locking bolts disposed transversely lar bolt guides, spring actuated locking bolts upon the carriage to engage the keepers and disposed in said guides and pro'jectable to lock the carriage in projected position, a engage the keepers to lock the carriage in cable having its terminals connected with ea/sees the bolts and its intermediate portion formed including a cable engaging the bight of the first named cable and operative to draw upon said first named cable to release the bolts and thereafter raise the carriage. 13. In launching and landing means for aircraft, the combination of a craft having space-d pontoons, said pontoons being provided with keepers, a wheeled landing carriage hinged to the pontoons for vertical movement between the same between projected and retracted positions, spring actuated locking bolts on the carriage to engage the keepers and lock the carriage in projected position, latch devices automatically operative to engage and holdthe bolts when released in retracted position, means for releasing the bolts from the keepers and raising the carriage to retracted position, and means for retracting the latches and releasing the bolts for a locking action.

1%. in launching and landing means for aircraft, the combination of a craft having spaced pontoons, a wheeled landing carriage of unitary construction carried by and movable in the space between the pontoons to project and retract the wheels thereof, means for locking the carriage 1n pro ected position to the pontoons, and means for releasing and retracting the carriage.

15. In launching and landing meansfor aircraft, thecombination of a craft'having s aced pontoons, said pontoons being provided with keepers, a wheeled landing carriage having a rear cross bar hinged to the pontoons and having a tubular front bar, said carriage being arranged to swing vertically in the space between the pontoons, spring actuated bolts mounted in said tubular cross bar and adapted for engagement with the keepers to lock the carriage in projected position, and means for retracting said bolts and raising and retracting the carriage.

16. in launching and landing means for aircraft, the combination of a craft having spaced pontoons, a wheeled landing carriage carried by and movable in the space between the pontoons to proj ect and retract the wheels v thereof, spring actuated bolts upon the carriage, said pontoons being provided with keepers to receive said bolts and with recessed portions adjacent to said keep rs, spring actuated latches to engage and hold the bolts retracted when adjusted to releasing position, said latches adapted to seat in said recessed portions and to be retracted by contact therewith to release the bolts wh n the carriage is lowered to pro ected position, and means for retracting the bolts and raising the carriage.

17. in launching and landing means for aircraft, the combination of a craft having spaced pontoons, said pontoons being provided with keepers and with recessed portions adjacent thereto, a pivoted wheeled landing carriage mounted on said pontoons, said carriage being provided with spring actuated latches to engage and hold the bolts retracted when adjusted to releasing position, said latches adapted to seat in said recessed portions and to be retracted by con tact therewith to release the bolts whenlt-he carriage is lowered to projected position, and means for retracting the bolts and raising the carriage.

18. In launching and landing means for aircraft, a craft having a waterborne base formed of spaced pontoons, a wheeled landing carriage hinged at its upper rear portion to the upper surfaces of the pontoons, said carriage being thereby mounted to swing vertically in the space between the pontoons, locking means for rigidly fixing the upper front portions of-the carriage to the pontoons when the carriage is lowered and in launching position, and means for releasing said locking means and swingingthe carriage upwardly to retracted position.

19. In launching and landing means for aircraft, the combination of a craft having spaced pontoons, a wheeled landing carriage of unitary construction carried by and movable in the space between the pontoons to project and retract the wheels thereof, means for locking the carriage to said pontoons in its projected position, and a single means for, releasing said locking means and moving said carriage to its retracted position.

20. In launching and landing means foraircraft, the combination of a craft having a water-borne base consisting of a pair of spaced pontoons, a wheeled carriage of unitary construction hingedly supported on said pontoons and operable for swinging movement between the same, keepers secured 'on said pontoons, spring actuated bolts secured on said carriage, and means for raising and lowering said carriage, said means acting to withdraw said bolts from operative engagement with said keepers simultaneously with the raising movement of said car-- riage 21. In launching and landing means for aircraft, the combination of a craft having keepers simultaneously with the raising movement of said carriage.

In launching and landing means for aircraft, the combination of a craft having spaced pontoons, a Wheeled landing car riage of unitary construction carried by and movable in the space between the pontoons to project and retract the Wheels thereof,

means for locking the carriage to said pon-h toons in HS pro ected position, a carriage" operating mechanism within the fuselage of the craft, and a connecting meansbetween said carriage and said operating mechanism,

said connecting means operating jo release said locking means during the initial movement of said operating mechanisnr'for the retracting of said carriage. I

23; In launching and landing means for .an-craft, the combination of'a. craft'havlng spaced ontoons, a wheeled landing carof the craft, and a cable between said car-.

riage and said operating mechanism, said cable operating to release said locking means during the initial movement of said operating mechanism for the retracting of said carriage.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

HEBER BUTTS.

wheels thereof, 

